Two new rankings celebrating success of Emirati businesses

Forbes Middle East has for the first time unveiled new rankings focused specifically on Emiratis and UAE-based enterprises that are pushing the boundaries of the business world in the Middle East.

Some of the pioneering entrepreneurs and startups present included: Jassim Albastaki from Envelope Investment LLC; Khalid & Abdulrahman Basaeed from Feathers UAE; and Hashem Al Marzouqi from Al Fanar Restaurant and Cafe; Idriss Al Rifai and Joy Ajlouny from Fetchr; Jon Richards and Samer Chehab from Compareit4me; Shant Oknayan and Christos Mastoras from GlamBox; Bader and Fahad Al Kalooti from Laundrybox; Mudassir Sheikha from Careem; and many more.

Mohammed Al Hammadi, Executive Director of Publishing and Editor-in-Chief of ‘Al Ittihad’’, delivered the keynote speech, praising the gathered trailblazers for using their vision and talent to revolutionize their industries, bringing with them modernization and growth, and making the United Arab Emirates one of the most diverse, inclusive and innovative countries in the world.

Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME, the agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai mandated to develop the SME sector, was also in attendance to hand out the awards with Mr Al Hammadi and recognise the achievements of the gathered leaders.

Al Janahi has been contributing significantly to developing and maintaining an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Dubai and mobilising government and private sector support to help young and aspiring entrepreneurs in the United Arab Emirates.

Al Janahi said: "Dubai SME is proud to be part of the initiative from Forbes Middle Ease to recognise entrepreneurial excellence as it complements our efforts to nurture the UAE's entrepreneurial culture into a strategic enabler of economic development.

“Dubai SME has supported more than 17,500 entrepreneurs and facilitated the launch of over 2,800 SMEs since its inception in 2002, helping aspiring Emiratis realise their dreams and cementing Dubai's reputation as a hub to launch and grow innovative and smart business concepts."

Khuloud Al Omian, Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Middle East, said: "We at Forbes are incredibly proud of our tradition of honoring the most successful business leaders, paying tribute to the people that have reached the top of their game, reinvented the rules and brought about innovation in their industries.

“We want to shine a light on the local startups and entrepreneurs that are shaking things up and inspiring growth and diversification. Every single one of the people on our lists has proven that they have the guts, the determination and the passion to excel at what they do, and by carrying out their business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) they are bringing excellence to the whole region."

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